Womens Health & Incontinence Physiotherapy
Are you (or your partner) suffering from back or pelvic pain during pregnancy? Do you (or your partner) experience any urinary leakage on coughing or sneezing or the frequent need to go to the toilet urgently?
Our new, Women’s Health Physiotherapist, Fiona Key, has many years experience in treating these problems. Since qualifying with a First Class Honours degree in Physiotherapy, Fiona has worked almost exclusively in Women’s Health and has completed post-graduate training at Masters Level in the assessment and treatment of urinary incontinence. She has also undertaken further training for treating problems relating to pregnancy and has gained a wealth of experience in this field as a Women’s Health Physiotherapist within the NHS.
Pelvic Floor Dysfunction is often due to pregnancy and childbirth and, in later life, due to the hormonal changes around the menopause:
Pelvic Organ Prolapse is very common. Research suggests that around 50% of women with children will some form of prolapse which is often described by patients as “something coming down”… Physiotherapy is able to treat mild to moderate prolapse.
Urinary Incontinence can be experienced in various ways. The two most common types are Stress Incontinence (leakage with cough, sneeze, and physical exertion) and Urge Incontinence (frequent, urgent need to go to the toilet resulting in leakage). It is estimated that approximately 1 in 4 women suffer with urinary incontinence at some point in their lives. Physiotherapy is recommended by the Dept of Health as the first line treatment for these conditions and can be highly successful.
Pain and mobility problems in pregnancy are frequently due to hormonally-induced weakening of the ligaments supporting your joints coupled with the weight gained in pregnancy. This can result in lower back pain, with or without associated leg pain (sciatica), or pelvic pain which can be felt at the front or back of the pelvis. There are well-established treatment techniques and exercises which can help to alleviate these problems.
Fiona is state registered, a member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and a Member of the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Women’s Health.
